Norfolk State University and the Military Alumni Chapter Foundation recently recognized four distinguished alumni who were inducted into the NSU ROTC Hall of Fame in 2020.
The NSU ROTC Hall of Fame was established to honor the accomplishments of individuals who have distinguished themselves in military or civilian pursuits and have made significant contributions to the ideals and principles of which the ROTC program was established.
They exemplify the ideals and principles of which the ROTC program was established. The 2020 NSU ROTC Hall of Fame inductees are:
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LTC (Ret.) Clarence Demory is a 1968 graduate of Norfolk State University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education. Immediately after graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. He has a Master of Business Administration from the New York Institute of Technology.
During his 24-year Army career, he served in a variety of management positions while stationed in the Continental United States, the Republic of South Vietnam, West Germany, the Republic of South Korea and Naples Italy. Following his military retirement, LTC (Ret.) Demory was employed by Prince William County Schools as a Technical Education Teacher. He taught Electronics Technology, Manufacturing and Power & Transportation at Gar-Field Senior High School (GFSHS), Woodbridge, VA. At GFSHS he also served as the sponsor for the African American History Club and the Young Black Men’s Club. He also served as the Chairman of the Technical Education Department and as a member of the School Planning Council. He retired from the school system after 17 years of service.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (meritorious service in connection with military operations against an armed hostile force); Army Commendation Medal/Third Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Force Commendation Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; and Parachutes’ Badge.
United States District Judge Raymond A. Jackson is a 1970 graduate of Norfolk State University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Immediately after graduation, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. Judge Jackson later earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Virginia.
His career has been dedicated to public service, serving as a captain in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the United States Army. After several years, in the United State Army Reserves he was promoted to Colonel and later retired.
Judge Jackson served as Executive Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia where he managed the United States Attorney’s office in the South Hampton Roads and Peninsula regions, as Chief of the office’s Criminal Division. He also served as Chief of the Civil Division in which he litigated cases and supervised attorneys in representing the United States in a variety of civil law litigation.
In November 1993, President Clinton appointed Judge Jackson to the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. As a United States District Judge, he has adjudicated hundreds of cases and issued a wide variety of legal opinions. One of his cases of significant precedent includes United States vs. Kimbrough (2007) in which the United States Supreme Court affirmed his ruling that the Court could consider the unwarranted and harsher disparity in penalty for crack cocaine was proper. He served as a panel member on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to assist the Court in handling its heavy appellate caseload. He authored several majority opinions as a visiting panel member of the Fourth Court.
Dr. Melvin T. Stith, Sr., a 1968 graduate of Norfolk State University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. In November 2017, he was appointed Interim President of Norfolk State University. With that appointment, he became the first alumnus to sit as the University’s President. No other president — permanent, acting, or interim — has ever held that position.
Dr. Stith is Dean Emeritus of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University and Dean Emeritus of the College of Business at Florida State University. He is also a recent recipient of Florida State University’s Torch Award. During his 18-month tenure as Interim President, Dr. Stith has had many accomplishments from construction of the new campus entrance to establishment of the African American Policy Think Tank, to forging strong relationships with our surrounding cities and local organizations to a record year for fundraising.
He currently serves as a member of the board of directors of the following public corporations: Synovus Financial Corp., Aflac, and Flowers Food Corporation. He also serves as chair of the board of directors for AARP Services. He was also a member of the board of directors for the Accounting Pathways Commission. He served as the Vice Rector on Board of Visitors at Norfolk State University until his appointment as interim President of the University which concluded on June 30, 2019.
In Syracuse, he is a member of the Crouse Hospital board of directors and served as the Crouse Hospital Foundation President from 2012-2015. He is a member of the advisory board of Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families and the local professional theatre, Syracuse Stage. He is a founding member of the board of directors of the Jim Moran Foundation and founding member of the PhD Project, which aims to significantly increase the pool of highly qualified African Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Native Americans for positions in the academy. A Vietnam veteran, Dr. Stith is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
LTC (Ret.) Antonio L. Thompson is a 1991 graduate of Norfolk State University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications. Immediately after graduation, he was commissioned as a 2LT of Infantry through the Reserve Officer Training Corps as a Distinguished Military Graduate. LTC (Ret.) Thompson transitioned to the Military Intelligence Corps in 1995 and has a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University.
LTC (Ret.) Thompson served as platoon leader, executive officer, assistant Battalion S-4, Battalion S-4; assistant Brigade S-3 and Company Commander. LTC (Ret.) Thompson has also served as an Intelligence Watch Officer, Regimental S-2, Deputy G2, Battalion Executive Officer, Battalion Commander, Intelligence Observer / Trainer, and as an Intel Planner at multiple levels LTC (Ret.) Thompson has deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star (2 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Accommodation Medal (2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), Presidential Unit Citation Award, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2 OLC), Valorous Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal (1 BSS), Iraqi Campaign Medal (1 BS), GWOT Expeditionary Medal, GWOT Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (3), Air Assault Badge, Combat Action Badge, Senior Parachutists Badge, and the Ranger Tab.